Midwater Trawl

Overview

The Gulf of Califonia hake fishery is a relatively recent fishery, carried out by 80 permitted vessels. These vessels operate mainly out of Sonora and Baja Califonia states. The fishery produces between 5,000 and 7,000 tons a year and is expected to soon be managed under a quota system. This hake FIP will focus on issues related to fishery-specific management objectives, the definition of HCRs, and defining appropriate reference points. Providing additional and more detailed information regarding its impacts on habitats and ecosystems is also of paramount importance in this FIP.

The Gulf of Califonia hake fishery is a relatively recent fishery, carried out by 80 permitted vessels. These vessels operate mainly out of Sonora and Baja Califonia states. The fishery produces between 5,000 and 7,000 tons a year and is expected to soon be managed under a quota system. This hake FIP will focus on issues related to fishery-specific management objectives, the definition of HCRs, and defining appropriate reference points. Providing additional and more detailed information regarding its impacts on habitats and ecosystems is also of paramount importance in this FIP.

FIP at a Glance

Fishery Status

FisheryProgress.org uses 28 industry-standard indicators based on the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard to track FIP progress. Comprehensive FIPs must address all red and yellow indicators, while basic FIPs may address only a subset of indicators.

The first bar below shows a snapshot of the FIP’s current performance against the indicators. The second bar below shows the FIP’s performance against the indicators when it started so you can see how much progress the FIP has made over time. Both bars use the following scale: Red=below 60, Yellow=60-79, Green=80 or higher, Gray=the subset of indicators a basic FIP is not addressing.

FIP is addressing 28 of 28 indicators

Current Status:

14%

39%

46%

Starting Evaluation: September 01, 2019

14%

39%

46%

FIP Progress

Progress Rating

A - Advanced ProgressReserved for comprehensive FIPs that have a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

B - Good Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 in more than 12 months AND Stage 3 activity in the last year; OR a basic FIP that has achieved Stage 4 or 5 achievements within the past 12 months.

C - Some Recent Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months but has not generated a Stage 3 result within the past 12 months OR a FIP younger than a year that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has completed a Stage 3 activity.

D - Some Past Progress A FIP for which the most recent publicly reported Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 30) months.

E - Negligible Progress A FIP older than a year that has not reported a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 30 month (but less than 36) months; OR a FIP younger than 1 year that has not reported a Stage 3 activity.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF

Not yet available

Actions Complete

Complete

Incomplete

Next Update Due
FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.

Jun 2020

Target End Date

Dec 2024

Additional ImpactsSome FIPs include objectives that go beyond the 28 indicators. Clicking on the links below will provide additional detail on other impacts the FIP is working to achieve.

Overview

The FIP is led by Pollock Catchers Association which represents 26 Russian fishing companies which harvest Alaska (Walleye) Pollock in the West Bering Sea Zone. Self-analysis made with OSMI Rapid Assessment Tool has revealed some areas where certain improvements may be needed to achieve an unconditional pass. To address that, the Pollock Catchers Association has designed a 3 year workplan that specifies specific actions aimed at making or initiating improvements. Improvements include collecting additional information about fishery's impact on certain elements of the ecosystem and preparation scientific information on MSC performance indicators needed for the asessement. Improvement actions were initiated in May 2019.

The FIP is led by Pollock Catchers Association which represents 26 Russian fishing companies which harvest Alaska (Walleye) Pollock in the West Bering Sea Zone. Self-analysis made with OSMI Rapid Assessment Tool has revealed some areas where certain improvements may be needed to achieve an unconditional pass. To address that, the Pollock Catchers Association has designed a 3 year workplan that specifies specific actions aimed at making or initiating improvements.

FIP at a Glance

Fishery Status

FisheryProgress.org uses 28 industry-standard indicators based on the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard to track FIP progress. Comprehensive FIPs must address all red and yellow indicators, while basic FIPs may address only a subset of indicators.

The first bar below shows a snapshot of the FIP’s current performance against the indicators. The second bar below shows the FIP’s performance against the indicators when it started so you can see how much progress the FIP has made over time. Both bars use the following scale: Red=below 60, Yellow=60-79, Green=80 or higher, Gray=the subset of indicators a basic FIP is not addressing.

FIP is addressing 28 of 28 indicators

Current Status:

29%

71%

Starting Evaluation: September 01, 2019

29%

71%

FIP Progress

Progress Rating

A - Advanced ProgressReserved for comprehensive FIPs that have a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

B - Good Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 in more than 12 months AND Stage 3 activity in the last year; OR a basic FIP that has achieved Stage 4 or 5 achievements within the past 12 months.

C - Some Recent Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months but has not generated a Stage 3 result within the past 12 months OR a FIP younger than a year that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has completed a Stage 3 activity.

D - Some Past Progress A FIP for which the most recent publicly reported Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 30) months.

E - Negligible Progress A FIP older than a year that has not reported a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 30 month (but less than 36) months; OR a FIP younger than 1 year that has not reported a Stage 3 activity.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF

Not yet available

Actions Complete

Complete

Incomplete

Next Update Due
FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.

Overview

Fishery Improvement Projects provide an opportunity to improve and document information and management of fisheries not yet eligible to receive sustainability certifications.

The Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) is an organization that represents the >100’ groundfish license holders in Atlantic Canada. The membership of GEAC holds almost 80% of the quotas for each of the two management units. As the fishery recovers from historic lows, the importance of a sustainable economic development of this expanding resource has never been higher. This FIP is a forum to plan for any sustainability issues to be resolved prior to assessment against the performance indicators of the MSC assessment framework.

Fishery Improvement Projects provide an opportunity to improve and document information and management of fisheries not yet eligible to receive sustainability certifications.

FIP at a Glance

Fishery Status

FisheryProgress.org uses 28 industry-standard indicators based on the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard to track FIP progress. Comprehensive FIPs must address all red and yellow indicators, while basic FIPs may address only a subset of indicators.

The first bar below shows a snapshot of the FIP’s current performance against the indicators. The second bar below shows the FIP’s performance against the indicators when it started so you can see how much progress the FIP has made over time. Both bars use the following scale: Red=below 60, Yellow=60-79, Green=80 or higher, Gray=the subset of indicators a basic FIP is not addressing.

FIP is addressing 28 of 28 indicators

Current Status:

18%

82%

Starting Evaluation: April 01, 2018

7%

29%

64%

FIP Progress

Progress Rating

A - Advanced ProgressReserved for comprehensive FIPs that have a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

B - Good Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 in more than 12 months AND Stage 3 activity in the last year; OR a basic FIP that has achieved Stage 4 or 5 achievements within the past 12 months.

C - Some Recent Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months but has not generated a Stage 3 result within the past 12 months OR a FIP younger than a year that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has completed a Stage 3 activity.

D - Some Past Progress A FIP for which the most recent publicly reported Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 30) months.

E - Negligible Progress A FIP older than a year that has not reported a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 30 month (but less than 36) months; OR a FIP younger than 1 year that has not reported a Stage 3 activity.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF

A
Advanced Progress

Actions Complete

Complete

Incomplete

Next Update Due
FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.

Overview

Reason for Inactivity

Missed two consecutive reports

Note: This FIP went inactive on April 30th, 2020.

UPDATE FOR MAY 2019: Research to support the rational management of threadfin bream along India's westcoast is now a federal priority and backed by a major thrust of research by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Demersal Fisheries Division. (Ref. http://www.cmfri.org.in/division/demersal-fisheries-division)

Launched in April 2017 and led by Gadre Marine Export PVT Ltd., this FIP is working to address challenges in the Japanese threadfin bream trawl fishery (Nemipterus japonicus) operating along the length of India's west coast where the stock is located. The project will advance the objectives to improve this fishery, and will focus on the rules and tools in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. Gadre Marine Export PVT Ltd. is a surimi processor purchasing threadfin bream from five coastal states in India. Gadre will host roundtables for the industry, fishing societies and regulators to meet, discuss, and set the objectives in motion.

A preliminary assessment against the Marine Stewardship Council Standard was completed in May 2017.The pre-assessment included a comprehensive assessment of scientific literature, interviews with fishing boat owners, and consultations with scientists in the coastal states. The major finding was that trawler boat owners, as well as scientific institutions, are optimistic that the fishery can rebound to optimum levels if concrete steps are undertaken over a five-year period.

Overfishing is occurring on west coast threadfin bream according to the 2014 stock assessment which recommended a 20% reduction in fishing. The major problem is overfishing on juveniles. Fishery scientists and managers agree it is the major target. There is a 61 day fishing ban during breeding season 1 June through 31 July every year. To further reduce fishing impacts on juveniles, Kerala has extended the ban and Maharashtra has required use of square mesh in the cod-end of trawls. The FIP supports the notion of a coastwide Winter closure to reduce fishing impacts on juveniles further.

Fundamentally, the area most needing improvement is the age of threadfin bream at capture. This can be achieved with short- and long-term measures that include seasonal bans to avoid fishing when juveniles dominate the catch, enforcement of increased mesh size in the cod-end of trawl nets, and seizure of illegal gears at fishing ports; so that harvest rates drop to appropriate levels.

Note: This FIP went inactive on April 30th, 2020.

UPDATE FOR MAY 2019: Research to support the rational management of threadfin bream along India's westcoast is now a federal priority and backed by a major thrust of research by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Demersal Fisheries Division. (Ref. http://www.cmfri.org.in/division/demersal-fisheries-division)

Overview

A pre-assessment of this fishery was carried out in 2010 and updated in 2014; FIP implementation started in 2015. The FIP is concentrating on the following improvements: i) ensure that precautionary harvest control rules are in place for individual stocks rather than for several small pelagic stocks together; and ii) improve data collection and analysis on discards and ETP species interactions through a scientific observer programme. Recently, a re-analysis raised concerns about whether MSC's requirements for key low trophic level (LTL) species might apply to this fishery, and in 2017, the FIP began supporting an ecosystem modelling project to address this question.

A pre-assessment of this fishery was carried out in 2010 and updated in 2014; FIP implementation started in 2015. The FIP is concentrating on the following improvements: i) ensure that precautionary harvest control rules are in place for individual stocks rather than for several small pelagic stocks together; and ii) improve data collection and analysis on discards and ETP species interactions through a scientific observer programme.

FIP at a Glance

Fishery Status

FisheryProgress.org uses 28 industry-standard indicators based on the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard to track FIP progress. Comprehensive FIPs must address all red and yellow indicators, while basic FIPs may address only a subset of indicators.

The first bar below shows a snapshot of the FIP’s current performance against the indicators. The second bar below shows the FIP’s performance against the indicators when it started so you can see how much progress the FIP has made over time. Both bars use the following scale: Red=below 60, Yellow=60-79, Green=80 or higher, Gray=the subset of indicators a basic FIP is not addressing.

FIP is addressing 28 of 28 indicators

Current Status:

7%

93%

Starting Evaluation: March 01, 2014

29%

25%

46%

FIP Progress

Progress Rating

A - Advanced ProgressReserved for comprehensive FIPs that have a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

B - Good Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 in more than 12 months AND Stage 3 activity in the last year; OR a basic FIP that has achieved Stage 4 or 5 achievements within the past 12 months.

C - Some Recent Progress A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months but has not generated a Stage 3 result within the past 12 months OR a FIP younger than a year that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has completed a Stage 3 activity.

D - Some Past Progress A FIP for which the most recent publicly reported Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 30) months.

E - Negligible Progress A FIP older than a year that has not reported a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 30 month (but less than 36) months; OR a FIP younger than 1 year that has not reported a Stage 3 activity.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF

A
Advanced Progress

Actions Complete

Complete

Incomplete

Next Update Due
FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.

Jul 2020

Target End Date

Jun 2020

Additional ImpactsSome FIPs include objectives that go beyond the 28 indicators. Clicking on the links below will provide additional detail on other impacts the FIP is working to achieve.